QFi barely trying

[freepyjamas]

Just found out that I need to fly to KL next month for business. Would really like to fly QF, so I see how they propose to get me there in J.

For $8400 return, my flight over consists of a Y- flight from Melb-Perth on Jetstar, then QF metal to SNG, then Malaysia Airlines to KL.

For $4313 return on Malaysia Airlines, I can fly direct from MLB-KL.

Really annoys me that Joyce can slate QFi for losing money, when I'm happy to hand him 5 grand or more to get me to KL and back (on our supposed 'national carrier'), and the best he can do is give me such astoundingly awful choices at such high prices that I really have no choice at all but to take my business elsewhere. How the hell can they package five hours in Jetstar as a J fare??? It's like they actually WANT me to avoid them. And there I was, thinking I was the reason they fly.

Pity Malaysia isn't in OW yet.

 

[mannej]

Not knowing the actual dates you are flying, but a random period over a week in August, I can see more options than just the JQ option to PER.

Just a knit pick, but MLB is in America, and SNG is in Bolivia. Some FF types are quite fussy when it comes to incorrect airport codes.
The correct ones are MEL and SIN

 

[ric_melb]

Well I do think there are some issues with Qantas not serving Asia well from Perth. And they do price internationally at a premium, although sometimes have some great specials. But QF long ago gave up on the KL market, couldn't make money on it, plus there wasn't enough business traffic. Even Jetstar gave up on it.
After all Malaysian Airlines lost some $800 million last year, so I doubt they make much money on the Australian route.
But I think in your case you have to accept that Malaysian is the way to go, and cant blame Qantas for the fact that they dont route direct or price it cheaply.

 

[richie9x]

That $4313 MH fare is a sale fare on offer until the 19th. So should go up again in a few days.

And to be fair to Qantas they do have a pretty great business class sale on at the moment. Unfortunately for for you it doesn't include KL. But considering they are offering Singapore for $3688 return at the moment, it seems like it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to extend that to other countries.

 

[NM]

Can't wait for MH to finally join the OneWorld fold. Gonna have an impact on QF for sure, and obviously good for anyone heading to KUL.

 

[browski]

I know you would really like to fly Qantas/One World, but...............since you are based in Melbourne, the best flight for you is the EK J option: $3883 return non-stop.
If you are the discerning type, you can also see that EK offer $5383 return in F

If you are determined to fly One World then CX offer MEL-HKG-KUL return in J for $5857.

 

[yohy?!]

Thems the breaks at the moment unfortunately, QF cannot make these markets work with the competition or their cost base so they are happy for you to go to other carriers in the meantime. I imagine the end game will involve a Swissair style bankruptcy of the international business (if they get their way in hiving it off from domestic) allowing a rebirth of the Qantas name attached to the JQ operation with crew and aircraft based in Asia.

 

[samh004]

It's like they actually WANT me to avoid them. And there I was, thinking I was the reason they fly.

Really, you don’t say…

But more seriously, as Malaysian isn’t a part of OneWorld yet and there’s no agreements in place, the system would undoubtedly try to route you mostly on QF Group metal. When codesharing happens I’m sure there will be much better options.

 

[smit0847]

Does QF not give you the option of MEL-SIN because it arrives too late into SIN to connect on MH to KUL that night? Aren't both SIN and KUL 24/7 airports?

Can't you just buy a return MEL-SIN-MEL J flight (does the sale fares apply to your travel dates?) then make your own way from SIN-KUL on the numerous carriers who fly this? It's like SYD-MEL - a very short flight (50 minutes?) with dozens of flights each day. I wouldn't say 'I must fly direct to Melbourne because there's no way of getting there from Sydney'

 

[kpc]

Can't wait for MH to finally join the OneWorld fold. Gonna have an impact on QF for sure, and obviously good for anyone heading to KUL.

The MH F lounge in Kul sounds pretty nice...I can't wait either!!

 

[Daver6]

I echo the sentiments. I wanted to book a trip to Europe in whY and back in Y+. No can do according to the grumpy telephone sales rep. Unless Im prepared to book two one way trips.

Well, if QFi is doing so well and don't want me towards the front of the plane where they make more money, so be it. Can't understand why they make it difficult for me to spend more money.

 

[NM]

The MH F lounge in Kul sounds pretty nice...I can't wait either!!

It is indeed quite nice.

 

[scheps]

i know its for business but i really would consider 68000 enrich points + tax to KUL and back in J, if possible.

 

[freepyjamas]

I guess it's MH. Sorry for the OP rant, but to be honest I still can't get over the cheek of QF bundling a 5hr leg on Jetstar Y on a supposed J fare... making me take 3 different flights... Then Charging way more for it than any other airline... multiple hops in rubbish seats is what I expect as a young traveller flying as cheap as possible on holidays.

If QF can't/won't fly business travelers somewhere, just tell us. Don't give us ludicrous flight options that no business traveller would even remotely consider acceptable.

Ah well. I've just booked a bunch of J flights to LHR with them though. That, they're doing well. Just such inconsistency of offering.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

This isn't a surprise, sadly. I was looking at SYD-BKK return late last year. One some dates, all the QF website would offer me was SYD-MEL-SIN-BKK on Deathstar/Deathstar Asia despite the fact on Expedia/Zuji etc the direct QF flights were offered (albeit significantly more expensive).

I ended up booking Thai and flew direct.

 

[davec]

When you do a search on the QF website and you get an 'odd' routing like this there is usually a button saying something like 'View Alternative Routings' or similar. Click on that and you will often get some options that make a lot more sense than the original routing offered....
And as previously suggested, get yourself on MEL-SIN direct flight with either QF or Jetstar (the JQ J product isn't too bad - maybe between QF Y+ and J?) and then get a quick connection through SIN to KUL with someone else (or just stay on JQ).....

 

[Platinum A332]

The QF offering into Asia has declined significantly since the start of the decade. No daytime flights to Singapore. No more flights to Beijing, Mumbai, Seoul and Osaka. Still not even daily flights to MNL and CGK. No more Melbourne-Shanghai/Tokyo/Bangkok flights. Uncompetitive Business Class product except for SIN flights continuing onto LHR and some token HKG services (Generation One Skybeds are less competitive than the new SQ Regional J!)

Need I continue?

 

[SeatBackForward]

The QF offering into Asia has declined significantly since the start of the decade. No daytime flights to Singapore. No more flights to Beijing, Mumbai, Seoul and Osaka. Still not even daily flights to MNL and CGK. No more Melbourne-Shanghai/Tokyo/Bangkok flights. Uncompetitive Business Class product except for SIN flights continuing onto LHR and some token HKG services (Generation One Skybeds are less competitive than the new SQ Regional J!)

Need I continue?

But hey isn't Jetstar going places now!

 

[JohnPhelan]

QF does have a mainly daytime flight to SIN - ex BNE at 1340. In summer, it's pretty much all in daylight.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

When you do a search on the QF website and you get an 'odd' routing like this there is usually a button saying something like 'View Alternative Routings' or similar. Click on that and you will often get some options that make a lot more sense than the original routing offered....

A direct flight SYD-BKK shouldn't be an 'odd' routing for someone coming to the QF website. The assumption should be that people are going to that site because they want a direct route and not two stopovers which involve manually rechecking your bags at each stopover and on a different airline (I know it's owned by the same parent but I don't go to the Qantas website to look for Deathstar flights).